Eastern District Orchid Society Inc. 49th Autumn Show is to be held on the weekend of Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April 2015 at the Bayside Uniting Church Hall, 420 Wondall Road, Manly West (Brisbane) between the hours of 8.30 am to 4.00 pm (Saturday) and 10.00 am to 3.00 pm (Sunday).  There will be in excess of 350 benched flowering orchids on display; numerous orchid plant for sale (some flowering); purchases of (i) raffles; (ii) craft table; (iii) orchid accessories; (iv) floral art arrangements; and (v) light refreshments – tea; coffee; sandwiches & cakes etc.  Entry is $3.00.

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls RlfC Family Fun Day is on this Sunday, March 15. The day is also the first game for the season where the Seagulls take on Easts at BMD Kougari Oval. See the flyer above for further information.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, today said businesses in the electorate can now apply for support to boost the skills of their workforce under the Abbott Government’s new $476 million Industry Skills Fund.

“Businesses in Bonner will be able to take advantage of the Industry Skills Fund to upskill or retrain their employees,” Mr Vasta said.

“The Fund will help Bonner businesses with training places and skills advice over the next four years. We want to offer real help and real solutions to our industrial sectors.”

“In contrast, Labor wasted billions of dollars on skills programmes that failed to deliver training that led to real jobs. The era of training for training’s sake is over.”

“Employers will receive support to decide what training is needed in their business, and which training provider they want to work with.”

The Industry Skills Fund is a key part of the Abbott Government’s ambitious program of vocational education and training (VET) reform to lift the quality of both training providers and their courses, enhancing the contribution VET makes to the employment prospects of students and the competitiveness of Australia's economy.

Businesses wanting support to train workers will be required to make a contribution between 25 and 75 per cent to the cost of training. The co-contribution rate depends on the number of employees, with smaller businesses receiving higher levels of support.

Guidelines and more information are available at www.business.gov.au/industryskillsfund.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Bulimba Creek Catchment works to protect and restore Brisbane's second largest catchment through bushcare, education, rehabilitation and speaking out in defense of the natural environment. They engage in community education, school projects, bushcare group support and getting the community planting trees, weeding and working on waterways and bushlands. Every month they have a number of events on offer for local residents to get involved in.

March Events

Sat 7 March – Open Day at Sustainability Centre – COOPERATIVE ANTS (9 – 12)

Sat 7 March- Art Show at Sustainability Centre – viewing from 1 pm, official opening at 6 pm

Sun 8 March – Art Show – artist demonstrations and morning tea (9 – 11)

Sun 8 March – Walking with Life – Qld Naturalists and Mt Gravatt Environment Group’s Mike Fox (2.30 – 5 pm)

Mon 9 Mar – Catchment Meeting at the church (7.30 pm)

Sat 14 Mar – Myna Bird Workshop – findings, management and cage building (9 – 2.30 pm)

Tues 17 Mar – BCC Biodiversity Seminar “Birds, Bees and Backyards” (6 – 8.30 pm)

For further information regarding Bulimba Creek Catchments and their events please contact them either via Email- b4c@bulimbacreek.org.au , Phone- 3398 8003 or follow them on Facebook-  https://www.facebook.com/BulimbaCreekCatchmentCoordinatingCommitteeb4c